Lay on Hands is a Paladin class feature (not a spell) used primarily for healing, although it has other uses. It can be used on anyone except for constructs and undead.
Key Aspects of Lay on Hands
- Resource: You have a pool of hit points you can expend with Lay on Hands. The size of this pool depends on your Paladin level.
- Action: Using Lay on Hands typically requires an action.
- Target: You can target yourself or another creature.
- Healing: You can restore hit points to a creature you touch, expending hit points from your pool.
- Curing Conditions: As an alternative, you can use Lay on Hands to cure certain conditions instead of healing. You can end one of the following conditions on the target:
- Blindness
- Deafness
- Disease
- Poisoned
Specifics and Considerations
- No Spell: Importantly, Lay on Hands is not a spell. This means it is not subject to counterspell or other effects that target spells.
- Undead and Constructs: You cannot use Lay on Hands on undead or constructs.
- Tactical Use: While primarily used for healing, consider using it to remove conditions, especially debilitating ones like blindness or being poisoned, for a tactical advantage.
- Split Healing: You can choose to heal a creature for only some of the available hit points. This allows for efficient use of your pool.
Lay on Hands offers versatility, allowing a Paladin to efficiently heal allies or remove detrimental conditions. It's a core ability that defines the Paladin's supportive role in a party.
